Mounting GOP Retirements Threaten House Majority

[DonViejo]

November 10, 2017 at 7:06 am EST By Taegan Goddard

“A retirement wave has hit House Republicans, emboldening Democrats who have become increasingly bullish about their prospects of winning back a majority in 2018,” The Hill reports.

“Republicans said more retirement announcements are expected in the coming days and weeks. The other veteran GOP chairmen who are facing term limits and could retire are Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Homeland Security Chairman Mike McCaul (R-TX).”

“Another long-serving Texas Republican, powerful Rules Chairman Pete Sessions, isn’t facing term limits but represents a congressional district that’s trending blue. Sessions is on Democrats’ retirement watch list, as well as Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), former Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), former Homeland Security Chairman Peter King (R-NY), and Reps. Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Patrick Meehan (R-PA) and Bruce Poliquin (R-ME).

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https://politicalwire.com/2017/11/10/mounting-gop-retirements-threaten-house-majority/

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

1. Good

[gratuitous]

2. Republicans tried to peg the pendulum

This swing back to Democrats is long overdue, delayed by Republican vote-rigging and district gerrymandering. Unlike 2006, I hope Democrats are prepared to actually do something this time around. They didn't have the belly for holding the Bush Administration accountable for its crimes. Instead of that reprieve causing Republicans to say, "Whew! We sure dodged a bullet there," they were emboldened so that when they got back into power just four years later, they did even worse than before.

This time around, Democrats have to punish Republicans for their crimes, instead of letting them amble off into the sunset of retirement or wingnut welfare. Letting Republicans off the hook doesn't serve the country, and sets the stage for even worse to come.

[MineralMan]

3. The fiery writing is on the wall, and on their announcements.

Those who are withdrawing from running know what is about to happen and are getting out while the getting is good.

We need to keep up the pressure and not slack off one bit.